Our Story
Throughout the 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s, there were a few different places in Baltimore where anyone could come and experience sunrise and sunset Agnihotra and learn about Homa therapy. A most popular center was the Powhattan Fire Temple under the stewardship of the beloved Fred Clifton. And another primary hub in this diverse community was the Randallstown farm and home of John Brown who was a business leader within the group. Under his leadership, Agnihotra Press was established which published the early editions of Satsang, the monthly journal for international Homa news and information that now can be found online. Also, at that time, Triloka, Inc. was set up as a venue for importing and selling incense and fragrance oils from Alkakot, India.
At this farm just outside of the city, the community used one of the sheds as a place where 24 hours of yajnya could be performed daily. The yajnya continued there for almost 12 years. On Sundays, some of the community would gather at the house for weekly Satsang and to perform Sharanagati.
By the mid nineties, several people had moved to Madison, Virginia to help establish the community surrounding the Parama Dham Fire Temple. The Randallstown farm was sold and several other people moved to California. By the year 2000, the new primary hub for the remaining, still widespread community, became the Rolling Road home of Ann and Tom Couto.
This house, with its large surrounding garden, was long ago designated as the Agnihotra House by Vasant Paranjpe and in 2001, the first resonance point in the U.S. was established here. The community now comes to the yajnya shala that was built there to perform 4 hours of Om Tryambakum daily and 24 hours on the new and full moon days. We also meet here for Sunday morning Satsang at 11:00, still keeping the tradition of 12:00 noon Sharanagati. On every other Sunday we meet in the home of BHC president and presidential advisor Henry and Jannette Gregory. We incorporated as a tax exempt, 501©3 educational organization in 2003, under the name of Baltimore Homa Community. And since then, we have formed a number of committees (according to the guidance given us), collected money from the membership to cover the costs of large projects and travel assignments and invested in fundraising events like Peace Parties and Family Fire Festivals.
